According to a recent study conducted by the University of Missouri-Columbia, motorists who are distracted are close to thirty times more likely to cause an accident when driving by a work zone, compared to drivers who are paying attention to the road.

Work Zone Safety Awareness Week is April 8 – 12, with a national kick-off event being held in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. The key message of the campaign for this year is to encourage drivers to make safety a priority, and to use extra caution when approaching, and driving by, a work zone.

Distracted Driving and Work Zones

Distracted driving is a serious problem, but it can be particularly dangerous when motorists are not paying attention as they approach a busy work zone. Depending on the type of work being done, work zone employees are often in close proximity to the road.

When motorists are driving at high speeds, and their attention is not focused on their surroundings, it seriously jeopardizes the safety of the workers. In addition, because of the speed at which the motorist is driving, the injuries involved are often quite serious, and frequently fatal.

Texting is one of the most common causes of distracted driving, but it is not the only culprit. Talking on the phone, reaching for something in the back seat, interacting with another passenger, and checking the GPS are all examples of distracted driving.

The results of the study may encourage the Federal Highway Administration, and other transportation agencies, to implement various remedies, including improved public education programs, stricter laws against texting and driving, and other policies that deter driver distractions.

Study Overview

According to the researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia, previous studies did not include information about driver behavior prior to the crash. The recent study used data that provided information about factors that contributed to the crash, including driver behavior, the vehicle, road conditions, and environmental factors. Essentially, they were able to reconstruct the events leading up to the accident.

To do this, the researchers used data from the Transportation Research Board’s second Strategic Highway Research Program’s Naturalistic Driving Study. They collected data from over 3,000 drivers, totaling more than 50 million miles driven between 2006 and 2015.

The researchers were able to see the driver’s interaction with the vehicle, the road, and the surrounding environment. This unique data brings much-needed attention to the impact that drivers have on increasing work zone safety.

If you were seriously injured in a work zone accident, you are urged to contact the Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. We will determine who is responsible for the accident and hold that person liable for your injuries. We will protect your rights at all times and ensure that you receive the maximum financial benefits you deserve for your injuries. We will not stop fighting for you until you are completely satisfied. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 844-556-4LAW (4529) or contact us online. We serve clients in Baltimore and throughout Maryland.

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